Faith

I was walking home from patrol when I heard loud grunting and things crashing down an alley. I turned and walked cautiously towards the noise. I felt that tingle and knew Buffy must be around. A door had been broken down and thats where the noise was coming from. I stepped inside and looked around.

'Damn, they're going hardcore.' Spike and Buffy were having one hell of a fight. Each one went flying into the wall several times. And the way they baited each other. I wished I had a bowl of popcorn. They put on one hell of a show.

But that was nothing compared to the encore. I should have seen it coming. All that passion in their fighting. The insults. She had him pinned against the wall and I knew what was going to happen before he did. I almost called out to stop her. This wasn't gonna be pretty.

As she pushed him across the room, up against a wall, and jumped on him I started to wonder if I should be watching this. One the one hand, its hot. Can't deny that. But I'm also feeling something else... but lets not go there. I see her reach between them, pick up the sound of a zipper being pulled down. I slowly walk back out into the alley.

When Jade got home the next evening she looked beat. "What's wrong JJ?"

She plopped down on the couch, resting her head back. "We've got to find a new place to live."

"Why?" I had no idea she was thinking about moving. I wonder if they're leaving Sunnyhell.

"They're raising the rent. I'm barely making it now, I can't afford anymore."

Oh. She's broke. I can deal with that. Been there, done that. Suddenly a thought occurs and I grin evilly. I reach over, taking her hand in both mine. "JJ, I think a time comes in every relationship where you have to take it to the next level. What I'm trying to say is, wanna shack up?"

She swats my hands away and laughs. "You're ridiculous sometimes."

"Nah," I sit back. "I'm serious. I've got a big ass place with no one living in it but me. You can each have your own room and you won't have to worry about rent."

"Faith, I can't do that. You help out so much already I can't have you supporting us."

"Its no problem," I reply. I see she's close to giving in so I add, "If it means that much to you, you can pay me whatever you can afford that month."

"Alright," she smiles bright and hugs me. Yes, I hug back. I'm comfortable with that now. Shut up!

The rest of that week was spent packing, moving and unpacking. Thank god for slayer strength or I'd be sorer than a motherfucker right about now. Who knew they had that much shit in their apartment.

The only problem I see with this is slaying. She has no clue what goes on once the sun goes down. But she might start wondering where I go each night. So I don't slay for a week. It's actually relaxing, taking a break.

The three of us develop a good routine and suddenly I realize that this is the closest thing to a family I've had in a long time. Only Mrs S. made me feel close to being at home before. But this, this is mine. Yeah, time off feels pretty damn good.

To top it off, I've got another new friend. Well, not really new, but a friend. Red found her way into one of my bars the other night. I felt her even before she stepped inside. There was an undeniable power rushing off her in waves. I spin on my stool and take a closer look, noting the clenched fists and the slight quivers running up her arms.

She cautiously walks in, her eyes roaming the bar, looking for potential danger. I smirk, proud of how she can take care of herself. Definitely not the same book-worm I used to know. She slides onto the stool next to mine, looking forward at the bottles of liquor lined up, "What?"

"Just thinking," I say, turning back to my drink. "You've changed."

She calls the bartender over and orders a drink, "Few years do that to a person, wouldn't you say?"

I nod silently, taking a slow drink of my beer. I play with my cigarette lighter, flicking it on and blowing out the flame. She does her shot and quickly downs half a beer. I keep waiting for her to say something, Willow always has something to say. You usually can't shut her up. "Gonna tell me or not? I've got better places to be if you're wasting my time."

Her head spins and she looks at me as I light a smoke. I inhale sharply, raising my eyebrows and waving my cigarette, letting her know I'm waiting for an answer. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

I toss a few bills down on the bar, grab my jacket off the empty stool and stand up. "Nice seein' ya Red."

"Faith," she says quickly, her hand resting on my arm. "Wait... I'm sorry."

"No sorries, you gonna talk or not?" I don't mean to sound coarse. Got nothing against Red, but I'm not gonna just sit here and do nothing.

Red looks at me with one of those fake half-smiles, "What do you wanna know?"

I motion for another round and point to a back booth. We slide in and a waitress brings us our drinks. I lift up one of my shots and she clinks hers with mine. I down my shot, and slam the glass down on the table. "So, when did you tap into it?"

She looks at me and I can see her working out ways to deny knowing what I meant. My gaze narrows and she sighs, "Tara."

I finish my cigarette silently, waiting for her to continue. She stares at the table, rimming the top of her glass with her finger. "It always came easy, but with her it's just... she's just... she lead me to my power."

"Thats nice and all but what's the catch?"

"She doesn't want me to use it," she bitterly says. She closes her eyes and sighs, taking a sip. "None of them do. And after tonight I can't blame them."

I look at her, my panic rising. "Willow, what happened?"

She looks at me suddenly, her eyes overflowing with unshed tears. "I didn't mean for it to happen."

"What. Happened." I hear myself say. Let me tell you it's weird to hear yourself talk.

She nods and takes a breath. "This demon was chasing Dawn and I. We were running down the street and I made a parked car unlock and take off ... so we could get away."

"So far not really seeing the big here Red."

"Well," she swallows. "I was supposed to be taking her to a movie but I took her to Rak's."

I tense at her words, my eyes raging with anger. I knew of Rak, he's not someone to go messing around with. Someone Dawn should never have been around. For a moment I see fear in her eyes but its quickly gone. She meets my stare and now it's I who feel fear. She thinks she can take me. And I'm not sure she's wrong.

"So, yeah... you know. I wasn't myself when we left, I was a complete bitch. Then this demon starts chasing us and we're in the car. It was like nothing I'd ever felt. I want to do something, I do it. I'm laughing and having fun driving a car wildly through the streets with just a thought."

She takes a break, finishing another shot. I really don't like where this is going. She motions for another round and we're both slowly getting drunk. "So yeah, I stopped looking at the road, completely forgetting to actually drive and we crash."

She holds her hand up as I'm about to interrupt her. "She's fine. Well, her arm's messed up and she's wants to kill me, but she's fine."

I nod, relieved Dawn was okay. I kinda like the kid. "Go on."

"I was knocked out. The demon attacked Dawn and she managed to get away long enough for Buffy and Spike to show up. I came to and used what was left of my fix to get rid of the demon. They all looked ready to kill me. I tried to tell them I was sorry. I told Dawn, I tried to make her listen..." She pauses, wiping her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. "I broke down right there, falling to my knees. Pleading for help because I can't stop. And they just left."